River Valley Rewind (June 22, 2016)Reprinted from a 1976 edition of the Courier-Democrat. BEAUTY AND BRAWN at Saturday's Atkins Conglomeration Day are depicted by the two-year-old winners of the Little Miss Bathing Beauty and Mr. Muscle pageant. Audrey Johnston is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Johnston. Paul Scott is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Scott. Approximately 1,500 persons attended the annual fund-raising event sponsored by Atkins Jaycees. Activities also included g...

Virginia Phillips graduates from United States Military AcademyCadet Captain Virginia Ann Phillips has graduated from the United State Military Academy at West Point and has been commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. She will enter the Uniformed Service University of Health Sciences Medical School in July and pursue a Doctor of Medicine degree. After graduation from medical school she plans on pursuing an orthopedic surgery residency. Virginia is the daughter of Brigadier General Michae...

Births (June 19, 2016)• Weir Michelle and William Weir of Russellville welcomed their son, Ezekiel Zachariah Weir, on June 3, 2016. He weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and was 19½ inches long. His siblings are William Jr., 11, and Jade, 9. His grandparents are Sherry and Chuck Poynter of Russellville and Dennis Weir of Russellville, Phyllis Maxwell of Atkins. His great-grandmother is Asako Poynter of Hector. • Thompson Kaci LeeAnn Rogers and Macy Tyrone Thompson of Russ...

Austin -- BallounMorgan Mae Austin of Russellville and Tyler Reed Balloun of Dardanelle are happy to announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of Greg and Rita Austin of Russellville. She is the granddaughter of Clayton and Lucy Reddell of Russellville and the late James and Faye Austin. Morgan is a graduate of Atkins High School and a graduate of Arkansas Tech University where she earned a Master's Degree in Education...

Births (June 12, 2016)• Chenowith Shea and John C. Chenowith of Pottsville welcomed their son, Grayson Gerald Chenowith, on May 24, 2016. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 20 inches long. His siblings are Dawson, 7, and Kimbyr, 4. His grandparents are Gerald and Sherri Chenowith of Pottsville, Eddy and Carron Cates of Marion and Teresa Edwards of Russellville. His great-grandparents are Virginia Thornhill and Marie Lambert of Russellville. • Andrews Sharlet Su...

White -- WetzelElizabeth Ann White of Ozark and Adam Chase Wetzel of Russellville are happy to announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of Thomas and Lori White of Ozark. She is the granddaughter of Charles Ray and Donna White and David and Pat Troglin, formerly of Russellville. Beth Ann is a 2011 graduate of Ozark High School and earned her BS in Early Childhood Education from Arkansas Tech University in 2015. She ...

Know and Do (June 9, 2016)• American Legion Jamboree today The Arkansas Country Express featuring Jack George, Bobby Maggard, Glen Heaton, Pud Maggard and Bill Rowlette will perform at the American Legion Jamboree at 6 p.m. today, at the American Legion Hut. • Travelers football at PCHA meeting The Arkansas Travelers football team will be the program for the Pope County Historical Association meeting at 7 p.m. Friday, in the Saint Mary's cafeteria. A meal will be avail...

Jacksons to celebrate 60th anniversaryKenneth Dale Jackson and Maxie Jewel (Cavin) Jackson will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Friday, June 10, 2016. They were married in Baton Rouge, La., in 1956, and lived briefly in Virginia until Dale finished his service in the Navy. Dale and Maxie have lived in Louisiana and Arkansas most of their lives, with a short move to North Carolina in the early 80s. They have lived in Russellville twice, from 1972-1981 and from 1985-pres...

Taylors to celebrate 50th anniversaryLeon (Pete) and Barbara (Condley) Taylor from Hector, Ark., will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married in Hector on June 10, 1966, at Welcome Home Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Jimmy Lee Chronister officiating. Their children, Stephen and Traci Taylor and Marcus and Julia Langford, would like to invite family and friends to come and celebrate this special occasion. The anniversary celebration will be from 2-4 p....

Burris — PollackMaegan LeAnne Burris and Andrew David Pollack of Russellville are happy to announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of Bob and LeAnne Burris of Russellville. She is the granddaughter of Elmer and LaVada Padgett and the late Larry Linton of Russellville and Bobbie and Gene Burris of Russellville. Maegan is a 2011 graduate of Russellville High School, a 2015 graduate of Arkansas Tech University and curr...

Statler — PierceJamie and Kimberly Statler of Atkins are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Shelby Statler to Lance Pierce, son of Dave Pierce of Tyler, Texas and Pam Caldwell of Fort Smith. Shelby is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and is an Account Executive at TracyLocke. Lance Pierce graduated from the University Of Arkansas School Of Law and is employed at Walmart Home Office in Northwest Arkansas as an Ethics Manager. A weddi...

Turners to celebrate 50th anniversaryTogether they have found a friendship, raised a family and built a beautiful marriage. You are most warmly invited by the children of Jerry and Linda Turner to participate in the celebration of their parents’ 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, June 4, 2016, at Gravel Hill Church of Christ, 1850 Gravel Hill Road, Dover, AR 72837. The celebration will begin with a special presentation from 1-2 p.m. and will continue until 4 p.m. No gifts please.

Crews to celebrate 50th anniversaryTommy and Mary Anne Crews of Russellville will celebrate their 50 year wedding anniversary on June 4, 2016. The couple was married on June 4, 1966, at the First Methodist Church in Springhill, La. They are members of the First United Methodist Church in Russellville. Together they have two children, Julie Storie of Conway and Jennifer Duran of Russellville; and five grandchildren, Meredith, Raegan, Keaton, Will and Katie. Tommy is retired from...

Jones to celebrate 50th anniversaryMr. and Mrs. JM Jones will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a renewing of vows at 8 p.m. Friday, June 3, 2016, at New Beginnings Church of God. The church is located at 710 Alaskan Trail in Russellville. JM Jones and the former Barbara Walters were married at the New Summit Church of God in Benton, Ark., on June 3, 1966. A reception will follow the ceremony. Invitations have been sent. The couple requests no gifts other than a card.

Knight — SessionsAtalie Griffith Knight of Russellville and Eric Louis Sessions of Little Rock are happy to announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of Jim and Terri Knight of Russellville. She is the granddaughter of Harl and Elanie Griffith and James and Johnna Knight, all of Russellville. Atalie is a graduate of Russellville High School and the University of Arkansas. She received her BSN at UAMS and is currently o...

Jordan — BungerTaylor Ann Jordan and Derek Allen Bunger of Russellville are happy to announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of Bobby and Pam Jordan of Russellville. She is the granddaughter of Bobby and Denney Jordan of Pine Bluff and Paul and Melba Shipman of Como, Miss. Taylor is a 2009 graduate of Russellville High School, a 2013 graduate of Arkansas Tech University and currently works at ABC Children’s Academy...

Crow — GoatesDanny and Donna Crow of Russellville are pleased to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Dr. Katie Elizabeth Crow to Mr. Brandon Wade Goates of Dardanelle. Katie is the granddaughter of John and Bobbie Doll, the late Maurice Corder and Patsy Crow and the late Joe Crow. She is a 2007 graduate of Russellville High School and a 2011 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She graduated in May of 2015...

Clark — ShieldsStacey and Tammy Clark of Jasper announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Carly Deon Clark to Augustus “Gus” Kolby Tillman Shields, son of Keen and Nesha Shields of Hector. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Vernon and Judy Fowler of Jasper and the late Donnie and Etta Clark of Jasper. She is a 2014 graduate of Jasper High School and is currently an early childhood education major at Arkansas Tech University. Sh...